In this insightful episode of Take Charge of Your Health, hosts Corinne Furnari and Carol Petersen, welcome Dr. Sande Bargeron certified anesthesiologist assistant and PhD in natural medicine, for a groundbreaking discussion on the hidden impacts of anesthesia and surgery on brain function, recovery, and long-term wellness.

Drawing from her dual background in conventional medicine and holistic health, Dr. Bargeron introduces the HARP framework — Holistic Anesthesia Recovery and Preparation — a comprehensive approach designed to help patients prepare for and recover from anesthesia more safely and effectively. The framework emphasizes nutrition, lifestyle optimization, and targeted supplementation as key strategies to protect the brain and body from anesthesia-related neurotoxicity and oxidative stress.

The conversation underscores how individual vulnerability plays a crucial role in surgical outcomes. Populations such as the elderly and those with neurodevelopmental conditions are particularly susceptible to the lingering cognitive and metabolic effects of anesthesia. Dr. Bargeron highlights the value of proactive preparation, including nutrient repletion, stress reduction, and maintaining metabolic and hormonal balance before undergoing any medical procedure.

The hosts and guest also discuss specific interventions—such as the use of magnesium to stabilize nerve and muscle function—and raise awareness about the potential risks associated with fluoride-containing anesthetic agents. Beyond these specifics, the episode broadens into a deeper exploration of how environmental toxins, hormonal dysregulation, and nutritional deficiencies can compromise recovery and overall resilience after surgery.

Ultimately, the discussion presents a transformative view of surgical care—one that merges science with holistic wisdom. Rather than seeing anesthesia and surgery as isolated medical events, the HARP framework positions them within a continuum of wellness, where preparation, detoxification, and mindful recovery are integral to protecting both the body and the brain.

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In this episode of Take Charge of Your Health, hosts Corinne Furnari and Carol Petersen, explore the essential yet often overlooked world of neurosteroids, focusing on pregnenolone and DHEA as critical hormones for maintaining vitality, cognitive function, and overall well-being. The discussion reframes these compounds not simply as secondary hormones but as foundational building blocks for the body’s entire endocrine network.

Furnari and Petersen emphasize that true hormonal balance requires attention to the precursor hormones from which others—such as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone—are derived. Central to this conversation is cholesterol, which the hosts describe as the indispensable raw material for hormone synthesis. They challenge the widespread medical trend of aggressively lowering cholesterol, warning that doing so can inadvertently disrupt neurosteroid production and impair healing, energy, and brain performance.

The conversation also touches on real-world health concerns raised by listeners. Questions about low cholesterol levels in vegan diets, the neurological aftermath of stroke, and even the potential cognitive benefits of nicotine—particularly in addressing COVID-related brain fog—are used to illustrate how intricately connected neurosteroids are to brain and metabolic health.

Throughout the discussion, the hosts advocate for a holistic, systems-based view of hormone regulation, one that integrates nutrition, lifestyle, and biochemical individuality. By restoring balance to pregnenolone and DHEA, they argue, individuals can support not only hormonal harmony but also sharper cognition, emotional stability, and long-term vitality.

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In this episode of Take Charge of Your Health, hosts Corinne Furnari and Carol Petersen, explore the often-overlooked role of progesterone in men. Traditionally labeled as a “female hormone,” progesterone is reframed here as a vital neurosteroid essential for both sexes, influencing far more than reproductive health.

The discussion traces progesterone’s crucial functions, beginning in fetal development and extending throughout life in areas such as brain function, mood regulation, and stress management. The hosts argue that maintaining adequate progesterone levels is vital for men’s hormonal balance, particularly in countering age-related issues like prostate enlargement and mitigating side effects from medications such as finasteride.

They further emphasize progesterone’s biochemical importance as a precursor to other key hormones, including testosterone and cortisol, situating it as a cornerstone of the endocrine system. The program also addresses practical considerations—how to use and source progesterone safely, optimal dosage strategies, and common misconceptions about its effects.

Listener questions extend the conversation into related health concerns, including high cholesterol, statin use, and how these factors intersect with hormone balance. Throughout the episode, Furnari and Petersen highlight a central theme: progesterone is not merely a sex hormone but a systemic regulator critical to men’s overall health, cognitive vitality, and hormonal harmony.

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As a follow-up to last week’s discussion on iodine with Dr. David Brownstein, this episode of Take Charge of Your Health turns its focus to the broader challenges of thyroid hormone treatment and diagnosis. Hosts Corinne Furnari, and Carol Petersen, unpack the shortcomings of conventional thyroid care, emphasizing that the standard reliance on the TSH test and synthetic T4 medication (such as Synthroid) often fails to resolve the full spectrum of symptoms experienced by patients with hypothyroidism.

Instead, they advocate for a more comprehensive and individualized approach. This includes using whole glandular thyroid hormone preparations, ensuring sufficient nutritional co-factors like iodine, selenium, and key vitamins, and conducting broader diagnostic testing that incorporates T3, free T4, and reverse T3 for a more accurate picture of thyroid function.

The interactive program also features listener calls, with questions ranging from iodine loading tests to the relationship between thyroid health, high cholesterol, and the widespread prescription of statins. In nearly every case, the hosts connect these concerns back to underlying thyroid dysfunction, highlighting the organ’s central role in metabolism and overall vitality.

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In this episode of Take Charge of Your Health, hosts Corinne Furnari, a clinical nutritionist and physician assistant, and Carol Petersen, a pharmacist, interview Dr. David Brownstein, a leading holistic physician known for his research on iodine. The discussion centers on the critical role of iodine in maintaining overall health, with particular emphasis on its impact on thyroid function and the prevention of glandular cancers.

Dr. Brownstein challenges the conventional caution surrounding iodine supplementation, noting that medical fear of iodine—especially in cases of autoimmune conditions like Hashimoto’s disease—has left many patients deficient in a nutrient he argues is essential. Drawing from both clinical experience and research, he stresses that every cell in the body requires iodine, not only the thyroid gland.

The conversation also addresses related factors that influence iodine status. The hosts and Dr. Brownstein discuss key co-factors needed for effective iodine utilization, the growing problem of salt deficiency in modern diets, and the disruptive effects of competitive inhibitors such as bromide and fluoride, which can block the body’s ability to absorb and use iodine properly.

By reframing iodine as a foundational nutrient rather than a risky supplement, the program highlights its far-reaching importance for hormone balance, cancer prevention, and overall cellular vitality.

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In this radio program, hosts Corinne Furnari and Carol Petersen challenge long-standing medical assumptions surrounding kidney disease. Traditionally viewed as a progressive and irreversible condition, kidney decline has often been presented to patients as an inevitable trajectory. The discussion instead introduces a new health paradigm, emphasizing that with the right interventions, kidney function can often be supported, stabilized, and in some cases improved.

The hosts explore the complexities of kidney function and stress the importance of correctly interpreting common laboratory markers. They discuss the significance of creatinine, BUN (blood urea nitrogen), and cystatin C, explaining how each offers unique insights into kidney performance. By helping listeners better understand these markers, the program encourages a more nuanced view of kidney health than conventional medicine typically provides.

A wide range of therapeutic approaches are also presented. The hosts outline established strategies such as sodium bicarbonate for acid-base balance, digestive enzymes for improved metabolic efficiency, and niacin for circulatory and cellular support. They also highlight emerging therapies, including peptides and bio-regulators, which are currently being investigated for their ability to repair and optimize kidney tissue at a cellular level.

In addition to their discussion, the hosts engage directly with listeners through live calls, offering feedback on lab results and personal health concerns. This interactive element underscores the program’s goal of empowering individuals with practical knowledge, encouraging them to view kidney health not as a fixed destiny but as an area where preventive care and innovative therapies can make a meaningful difference.

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This radio show segment features an in-depth conversation with Dr. Bar, an expert in alternative therapies, exploring the rising concern of declining male hormones. The discussion highlights how testosterone levels and sperm count have steadily decreased over recent decades, a trend linked to chronic stress, widespread exposure to environmental toxins, and the growing prevalence of obesity. Rather than viewing these issues in isolation, Dr. Bar frames them as interconnected signs of imbalance that reflect the pressures of modern living.

Conventional approaches such as hormone replacement therapy are critiqued for addressing symptoms without resolving underlying causes, and for carrying risks that may compromise long-term health. In contrast, the segment advocates for a holistic strategy that focuses on restoring the body’s natural ability to regulate hormones. Lifestyle changes that reduce stress, targeted nutritional support, and the use of specific peptides are emphasized as powerful ways to encourage the body’s own hormone production and improve overall vitality.

The conversation also examines common challenges in male sexual health, including erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation, and presents emerging therapies that aim to restore confidence and intimacy. Treatments such as the P-Shot, alongside peptide options like PT-141, are discussed as innovative interventions that can enhance sexual function when combined with a balanced hormonal foundation.

Ultimately, the segment underscores that maintaining a healthy hormonal profile is not simply about reproductive capacity or sexual performance, but about sustaining energy, resilience, and overall well-being throughout a man’s life.

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Heavy Bleeding, Hormones, and Healing

This radio broadcast features clinical nutritionist and physician assistant Corinne Furnari alongside pharmacist Carol Petersen, who explore women’s health with a focus on hormonal balance and natural approaches to care.

The hosts begin by answering a listener’s question on citrus fruit and histamine, clarifying its complex, dual effects in the body. From there, the conversation shifts to the central topic: abnormal bleeding in women during perimenopause and postmenopause. They strongly advocate for progesterone therapy as a safer, more effective alternative to conventional interventions such as birth control pills or hysterectomies.

Throughout the discussion, they emphasize the importance of listening to your body’s signals rather than relying solely on lab numbers when evaluating hormone health. The program also touches on a caller’s struggle with osteomyelitis, where the hosts suggest exploring complementary and alternative therapies as part of a holistic healing approach.

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